Marriages improve after children grow up and move out，according to an academic study, which suggests an “empty nest” is not always a bad thing.
Popular wisdom has it that parents’ relationships may suffer once their young fly the coop, because they feel they have lost their purpose in life.However, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that many couples actually feel happier when their children leave home because they are able to enjoy spending time together.
In total,123 American mothers born in the 1930s were tracked for 18 years and asked to rate their satisfaction levels shortly after marrying, when they were bringing up babies, once their children reached their teenage years and finally at age 61, when almost all had “empty nests”．
Although not all said they were happier in general, most claimed their marriages had improved since their children had left home. Researchers believe this is not just because the spouses were spending more time together, but because they were able to enjoy each other’s pany more.
One of the participants in the study，which is published in the journal Psychological Science，said：“Once the kids grow up...there’s some of that stress removed...that responsibility removed，so things are a little more relaxed.”
Psychologist Sara Gorchoff，who carried out the investigation，said: “The takehome message for couples with young children is ‘hang in there’．” Her coauthor Oliver John added：“Don’t wait until your kids leave home to schedule quality time with your partner.”
However, Dr Dorothy Rowe，from the British Psychological Society，said the effects of living in an “empty nest” will depend on the parents’ relationship with their children.“If you’re just waiting for them to leave home so you can get on with your life，then of course you’ll be pleased to see them go,” she said, “But if you’ve built your life around your children you’ll be terribly lonely.For some parents，their world falls apart when their children leave.”
【小题1】It is monly believed that .A．marriages improve after children leave homeB．an “empty nest” is always a happy thingC．parents’ relationships may suffer once their young grow up and move outD．parents will be pleased after their children leave home【小题2】When did many couples feel happier according to the study?A．At age 61, when almost all had “empty nests”. B．Shortly after marrying.C．Once their children reached their teenage years.D．When they were bringing up babies.【小题3】Marriages improve after children fly the coop not because .A．many couples are able to spend time togetherB．many couples are able to enjoy each other’s panyC．things are a little more relaxedD．many couples needn’t work at all【小题4】The author of the passage tends to agree that .A．parents should build their life around their kidsB．parents should schedule quality time with each other before kids leave homeC．parents’ relationship with their kids has no effect on marriages at allD．parents should be pleased to see their kids leave homeC
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(答案→)C
解析：本文讲述了一些孩子离家以后的空巢老人可能更为开心，文章分析了原因，也提出了不同的观点。
【小题1】C 细节题。根据第二段1,2行Popular wisdom has it that parents’ relationships may suffer once their young fly the coop, because they feel they have lost their purpose in life.原来很多人认为孩子离开家以后，父母会感觉很孤单寂寞。故C正确。
【小题2】A 推理题。根据第二段2,3行Berkeley, has found that many couples actually feel happier when their children leave home because they are able to enjoy spending time together.可知当孩子离开家的时候，也就是变成空巢家庭的时候，他们会感觉很开心。故A正确。
【小题3】D 细节题。根据4,5段Researchers believe this is not just because the spouses were spending more time together, but because they were able to enjoy each other’s pany more.和One of the participants in the study，which is published in the journal Psychological Science，said：“Once the kids grow up...there’s some of that stress removed...that responsibility removed，so things are a little more relaxed.”可知ABC三项都是文章中提及的原因，只有D项不是。
【小题4】B 细节题。根据文章倒数第二段最后2行Her coauthor Oliver John added：“Don’t wait until your kids leave home to schedule quality time with your partner.”可知B项内容正确。